Signal device for automobiles



W. B. AYER.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FlLED'JAN-T, 1920.

Patented' Dec. 21,1920.

WILLIAM E. AYER, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented YDec. 21, V1920.

vApplication led January 7, 1920. Serial No. 349,951.

T0 all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. AYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices for automobiles and trucks, and more particularly is an improvement over. myy Letters Patent No. 1,315,697 granted to me September 9th, 1919. l

The object of this invention is to produce a signal device of the character mentioned which will be adjustable to permit the length of the housing or casing to meet the requirements of various widths of windshields or dashboards. Inasmuch as the ends of the casing or housing determine the limit of outward movement of the sign members, it is of importance to have the casing or housing itself longitudinally extensible so that its ends will bev flush with the edges of the windshield or other support on which it is mounted. I accomplish this by the employment of a casing having two sliding end sections and a central sleeve member with which each -end section telescopes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the drawings, of which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device embodying my invention as applied to the windshield of an ordinary automobile.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal central sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device with one of the sign members extended.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latch element.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, 10 and 11 indicate two casing members which are held together by means of the sleeve member 12, the casing members being adapted to freely slide within said sleeve member. These casing members 10 and 11 are secured to the windshield through means of suitable clamps or otherwise not shown. Within the housing and slidably mounted on guides 13 are mounted two sign members 14 which are proj ectable through the opposite ends of the housing or casing but normally concealed within.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I show an extensible coil spring 15 for pressing the signs outwardly, one spring acting for both sides. The spring is mounted on the inner end of the two rod members 16 and 17, the member 17 being tubular. and the rod 16 -telescoping therewithin. Near the inner end of each sign member, I provide a stop for the spring 15 as indicated at 18 on each sign member. The stop is an outward projection formed on each sign member and provided with an opening through lwhich the rods 16 and 17 extend, the sign members being free to move irrespective of said rods. On the outer end of each rod, I provide bumpers 19, preferably of rubber, which' serve to limit the outward movement of the sign members.

The means for latching the sign members in retracted and concealed position preferably comprises a button or lug indicated at 20, Fig. 1, and shown 'in detail in Fig. 4. This latch element is secured at the inner end of each sign member -and projecting through a slot 20 formed centrally and longitudinally of'each of the housing members in the sides thereof Near the inner end of each casing member 10 and 11, I provide a vertical cross ymember as indicated at 21, Fig. 2. This member serves as means for holding the latch member 20 when the signs are in their retracted position and also acts as a brace for the casing members 10 and 11.

For illuminating the sign members when y extended, I'provide an incandescent lamp on vtheir negative terminals being each connected to a downwardly extending member secured to the casing as indicated at 24, the purpose of which will later'become evident. I also provide reflecting means indicated at 25 which is ladapted to reflect the light downwardly and outwardlyk so that the sign or signal members are illuminated on each side when extended. These reflectors also serve the purpose of inclosing the outer ends of the casing members to protect the device from the weather.

It is believed from the foregoing description that a clear understanding of the invention can be had. In the operation of my device, assuming that the signs are in their retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2 and y it is the intention of the operator to turn to the left, it would then, by releasing the latch member 2O on the lefthand sign, permit this sign to be extended outwardly from the casing as shown in Fig. l. If it were at night time, whenv the sign reached its extended position, the connection would be made between the stop member 18 on the sign and the downwardly extending member 24, which would complete the circuit for the light 22, the other side of the circuit being grounded. When it is desired to retract the sign and return it to a concealed position, it is only necessary to draw the sign in against the tension of the spring l5 to its normal position where it may be again latched. When it is desired by the operator to turn to the right, simply a repetition of the foregoing would be made.

While in the different views illustrating my invention, I have shown a design which is particularly adaptable for use on trucks, it is to be understood that with certain refinements of my design an equally adaptable signal device can be made for use on automobiles. It is also to be pointed out that the casing, which is positioned transversely of the windshield, can be placed in a most suitable position which will not obstruct the vision of the driver.

The device is of a simple economical construction and easily operated. It offers the advantage that warning is given to the pedestrians in front as well as occupants of vehicles in the rear when a change in the course of travel is contemplated.

It is also to be pointed out that in a majority of automobiles the casing may be arranged on the dashboard, but where other instruments are present to interfere, it may be placed on the windshield, and as before stated, in such a position that it will not interfere with the vision of the driver. Also, since the lower half of the windshield opens outwardly at its bottom and the casing is on the inside, there is no interference with the normal operation of the windshield.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A signal device for automobiles comprising a housing detachably connected to the front portion of the automobile transversely thereof, said housing being formed with longitudinally extensible end sections to permit the housing to be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the support on which the signal device is mounted, a sign member slidably mounted in each end of the housing and normally concealed within, a spring means for pressing said sign members outwardly through opposite ends of the housing to display them, and means for latching the sign members in retracted position.

2. A signal device for automobiles comprising a longitudinally extensible housing detachably connected to the front portion of the automobile transversely thereof, said housing comprising two main members and a sleeve member, said main members being freely slidable within said sleeve member to permit the length of the housing to be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the support on which the signal device is mounted, a sign member slidably mounted in each end of the housing and normally concealed within, a spring means for pressing said sign members outwardly through opposite ends of the housing to display them, and means for latching the sign members in retracted position.

3. A signal device for automobiles comprising a housing detachably connected to the front portion of the automobile transversely thereof, said housing being formed with longitudinally extensible end sections to permit the length of the housing to be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the support on which the signal 90 device is mounted, a sign member slidably mounted in each end of the housing and normally concealed within, a spring means for pressing said sign members outwardly through opposite ends of the housing to display them, means for latching the sign members in retracted position, and means carried by said adjustable end sections to limit the outward movement of 'the sign members.

4:. A signal device for automobiles comprising a longitudinally extensible casing detachably connected to the front portion of the automobile windshield transversely thereof, said casing comprising two main members and a sleeve member, said main members being freely slidable within said sleeve member to permit the length of the housing to be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the support on which the signal device is mounted, a sign member slidably mounted within each end of the easing normally concealed within, spring means for moving the signrmembers outwardly from the casing to signaling posi- 115 tion, comprising a tubular rod on one sign member and a rod on the other sign member telescoping within said tubular rod, a single coil spring encircling the inner ends of each rod, kand means for holding the 120 spring in its retracted position when said sign members are likewise in retracted position.

5. A signal device for automobiles comprising a longitudinally extensible housing 125 detachably connected to the front portion of the automobile transversely thereof, said housing comprising two end sections and a sleeve member with which said end sections telescope, a sign member slidably mounted 130 in each end of the housing and normally concealed Within, a spring means for pressing said sign members outwardly through opposite ends of the housing to display them7 and means oonnectible With a member on said sleeve for latehing the sign members i in retracted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand n the presence of tWo Subscrib- JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY. 

